Poppet assembly for a traction control modulator

Abstract

A traction control modulator for an automotive traction control system includes a housing having a longitudinal bore in fluid communication with the system. A drive gear selectively rotates a drive screw. A non-rotative nut is threaded onto the drive screw and mounted in the bore. A piston is attached to the nut and slidably mounted in the bore. A retainer is attached to the piston. A spring biases a poppet assembly away from the piston. The poppet assembly is slidably mounted in the bore and includes a poppet, a seal and a seal retainer. The seal retainer has an annular flange received in a groove on a poppet head and an annular cap fitted over a base of the seal.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A traction control modulator for an automotive traction control system, the modulator comprising: (a) a housing having a longitudinal bore in fluid communication with the system;   (b) a drive screw rotatably mounted in the bore;   (c) means for selectively rotating the drive screw;   (d) a non-rotative nut threaded onto the drive screw;   (e) a piston attached to the nut and slidably mounted in the bore;   (f) spring means biasing a poppet assembly away from the piston; and   (h) wherein the popped assembly is slidably mounted in the bore and includes (i) a poppet having a stem terminating at one end in a flange and at a second end in a head the head having first and second annular grooves;   (ii) a seal having a base received in the first groove of the head and a ring portion extending axially beyond the head; and   (iii) a seal retainer having an annular flange received in the second groove of the head and an annular cap fitted over the base of the seal.     
     
     
       2. The modulator specified in claim 1 wherein the seal retainer has an annular wall having a plurality of guides formed on the circumference of the wall for directing the poppet assembly along the inner surface of the bore. 
     
     
       3. The modulator specified in claim 1 wherein the seal retainer is formed from plastic. 
     
     
       4. A poppet assembly for an automotive traction control modulator, comprising: (a) a poppet having a stem terminating at one end in a flange and at a second end in a head;   (b) a tip portion on the head opposite the stem;   (c) a first annular groove formed in the head of the poppet between the tip portion and the head;   (d) a second annular groove formed in the head of the poppet between the first groove and the stem;   (e) a seal having a base received in the first groove of the head and a ring portion extending axially beyond the entire head;   (f) a seal retainer having an annular wall, an annular inner flange formed on the wall and received in the second groove of the head, and an annular cap formed at one end fitted over the base of the seal.   
     
     
       5. The poppet assembly specified in claim 4 wherein the annular wall of the seal retainer includes a plurality of guides on its outer surface for directing the poppet assembly along an inner surface of a bore. 
     
     
       6. The poppet assembly specified in claim 4 wherein the seal retainer is formed from plastic.